Nepal Flood Disaster Response · Phase Progress Report (2)

This report consolidates the complete field records of 7979 consultant Eddy Hew from 6–7 September in Bidur, Trishuli Market, Devighat Market and Shree Chandrajyoti Secondary School, together with the latest disaster data provided by MCDS on 7 September, as a full progress update on the activities carried out over these two days.

1. Latest MCDS Field Data (as of 7 September)

MCDS’ relief efforts are focused on Ward No. 5 of Bidur Municipality, Nuwakot, with Devighat Market as the key operational area, as roads remain accessible there and most evacuees have been accommodated in this location.

Number of evacuation centres: 24
Total number of people in evacuation centres: 2,796

According to local Ward representative Binod Tamrakar, the evacuation centres are expected to remain in operation for another 10 to 15 days. After that, the local government will either establish tent communities or provide relocation compensation.

Current Situation of Affected Families in Ward No. 5

• 25% of households: Have relocated to Kathmandu and other areas
• 25% of households: Are renting accommodation within Bidur Municipality
• 50% of households: Are still staying in evacuation centres

Breakdown of 450 Households in Evacuation Centres

• Red Card — 248 households: Their homes, land and property were completely washed away by the floods
• Blue Card — 202 households: Their houses remain standing, but their livelihoods, including businesses and farmland, were destroyed
• Approximately 40–45 of these households are from informal settlements

Current Relief Supply Situation
Food and clothing: Supplies are currently sufficient.

Most urgent needs: Gas stoves, gas cylinders and kitchen utensils. Gas stoves are in short supply in the market, while electricity has not yet been restored in approximately half of the affected area, making induction cookers impractical.

Recovery and Transitional Arrangements
The local government has identified land for the establishment of a tent community, and the local military camp has sufficient tents available for deployment.

NBCC/MCDS will also designate Nawa Jyoti Baptist Church, located between Trishuli and Devighat and overseen by Pastor Ramhari, as a transit house. It will provide temporary accommodation for affected community members, visiting pastors and church leaders.

Completed Response Activities
On 30 August, MCDS prioritised clothing assistance for 150 of the 248 Red Card households. Clothing sets were prepared according to the sizes required by individual family members. A total of four field visits were conducted during the response, involving senior NBCC/MCDS leaders, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) personnel, staff members, technical personnel and volunteers.

On 6 September, MCDS also distributed eggs to families staying in evacuation centres to provide an additional source of protein.

2. Field Notes from Two Severely Affected Areas

Trishuli Market — the Worst-Affected Area in Bidur
On 6 September, Eddy first travelled with the MCDS team to Trishuli Market, the area most severely affected in Bidur. Many residents tragically lost their lives in the disaster.

Bridge and River Channel Remnants
After the floodwaters receded, sections of bridge decks and road structures were found broken and submerged in the riverbed, leaving the roads impassable.

Devighat Market — MCDS’ Main Project Area and the Second Most Severely Affected Area
The team then proceeded to Devighat Market. This area was the second most severely affected after Trishuli, but most residents managed to flee to higher ground in time, resulting in relatively fewer casualties. There were originally around 200 houses in this area, all of which have now been washed away. Displaced residents are currently being temporarily accommodated at Shree Chandrajyoti Secondary School, with approximately 450 people staying there. They are expected to be able to remain at the school only until the following week. This is currently the main geographical focus of MCDS’ response activities.

3. Temporary Shelter: Shree Chandrajyoti Secondary School

Displaced residents from Devighat are currently being temporarily accommodated at Shree Chandrajyoti Secondary School, with approximately 450 people staying there. In addition to serving as temporary accommodation, the school compound also functions as a relief supply distribution and service point, while psychosocial support services are being provided for children and women.

4. Soft Ground Conditions: Challenges for Movement and Transportation

On 7 September, the team continued its assessment along the river valley. The mud and sediment on the ground remained extremely soft, with shoes visibly sinking into the surface while walking. Vehicle movement was also very difficult. These conditions continue to make road restoration, relief transportation and subsequent resettlement efforts highly challenging.

5. Damage to Critical Infrastructure

According to Eddy’s field observations, the floods caused severe damage to local transportation infrastructure:

• Trishuli Bazaar: Both the old and new main bridges were washed away.
• Along Tupche and Devighat: The Trishuli River Bridge at Tupche, Simchaur Bridge, and several structures around Devighat — including the Middle Hill Highway bridge and structures around the canal junction — were completely destroyed.

As the disaster affected multiple areas along the Trishuli River, including remote communities and hydropower projects, the authorities are currently reporting cumulative national figures for deaths and missing persons rather than a final figure specifically for Trishuli Bazaar. For this reason, an exact number of fatalities for Trishuli Bazaar is not yet available from the field.

6. Logistics: River Conditions Continue to Affect Relief Distribution

With many existing bridges washed away, the movement of people and relief supplies has become increasingly difficult. At some locations, people and supplies must cross the river using basic cable systems or suspended baskets. Follow-up relief distribution will therefore continue to be affected by river conditions.

7. Field Assessments

Throughout 6–7 September, Eddy continued travelling between several disaster-affected neighbourhoods around Bidur to monitor the latest conditions on the ground.

8. Eddy’s Follow-up Arrangements: Extending His Stay and Expanding Field Assessments

Given the rapidly changing situation in the disaster-affected areas, Eddy decided to extend his stay in Bidur for approximately one week and continue working alongside the local team so that emerging needs could be identified promptly. Bidur is currently the main location where evacuees from the worst-affected areas are being accommodated, as well as the furthest frontline area that remains accessible by road. Further into the disaster zone, the movement of personnel and relief supplies still depends on helicopters. Helicopters were frequently taking off and landing in the area, giving the scene an almost war-zone-like atmosphere.

On 7 September, the team travelled towards a new location called Vaise to assess needs. Vaise is an important town located along the highway leading towards China. As the road was inaccessible, the team had to climb and walk along muddy ground beside the river. However, after a local pastor advised that reaching the community would require another hour of walking, the team decided to turn back for safety reasons and planned to return on a future visit.

9. Next Step: Gas Stove Distribution Plan

According to MCDS’ assessment, the most urgent needs at the evacuation centres are currently gas stoves, gas cylinders and kitchen utensils. Following discussions between 7979 and MCDS, these items are being prioritised for the next phase of assistance.

Quantity planned for distribution: 450 units
This figure corresponds to the 450 households currently staying in the evacuation centres, with the aim of providing one gas stove to each household.

Estimated cost: From approximately RM60 per unit
The actual price will depend on the cost of the next shipment arriving from India. Based on 450 units, the preliminary budget would be at least RM27,000. If prices increase, the required budget will need to be adjusted accordingly.

Points Requiring Further Attention

• MCDS’ original request covered three items together: gas stoves, gas cylinders and kitchen utensils. Even after gas stoves are distributed, the follow-up need for gas cylinders and kitchen utensils will still need to be addressed.
• MERCY Malaysia is also planning to distribute gas stoves in the area. Through MCDS’ local coordination, 7979 will clarify the respective locations and beneficiary groups covered by each organisation in order to avoid duplication and ensure that assistance reaches different communities more effectively.
• Follow-up assessments in Vaise and other areas that have not yet been assessed will continue during the team’s one-week deployment in Bidur.

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Sources

Field records, photographs and discussion notes were provided by 7979 consultant Eddy Hew during field visits to Bidur, Trishuli Market, Devighat Market and Shree Chandrajyoti Secondary School on 6–7 September 2026. The report also references the NBCC/MCDS Situation Report as of 7 September 2026.

Note: The disaster situation and needs assessments continue to be updated, and subsequent information may be revised. This report is the complete progress update for 6–7 September, consolidating related updates that were previously released in separate parts.